Supporting garment construction



Nov. 22, 1955 F. OELBAUM 2,724,117

SUPPORTING GARMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed May 24, 1954 IN VEN TOR. FQEDA OELBA UM ATTOQA/EKE 2,724,117 SUPPORTING GARMENT CONSTRUCTION Freda Oelbauni, Newark, N. J. Application May 24, 1954, Serial No. 431,952

1 Claim. (Cl. 236) serves to eliminate the appearance of any unwanted flesh protuberances and serves to render an illusion of firmness of flesh. Such garments are conventionally designed to approximate the contour of the desired appearance of the body portion to which applied. Upon application to r the body portion it is hoped that the body will assume the contour of the garment. In practice, however, it is found that due to the disparity of body proportions among the general populace it is advisable to provide additional members serving as reinforcement to aid in the support of the body. These are conventionally referred to as stays. It is found, however, that mass produced garments of this type, due to the above cited disparity, must be altered to suit various wearers. Alteration must also be made during the life of the garment to accommodate changes in the body shape of the wearer. The most prevalent type of alteration involves a change in the position of the stay. This operation requires the services of a seamstress, obviously resulting in all sorts of inconveniences for the users of such garments. It is also desirable to be able to modify a garment during daily use so as to change its restraining properties for day wear, when relative freedom is desired, to a highly constrained evening wear condition. Stays should also be removed to facilitate thorough cleaning of the garment.

It is with the above problems in mind that the present construction has been evolved, a construction whichwill permit ready alteration of the stay positioning, in garments designed to render support to the body.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a novel garment construction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a feature of supporting garment construction which will permit alterations of a supporting garment at the discretion of the wearer without requiring the exercise of any seamstress techniques.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a supporting garment having stays which are readily removable for cleaning of the garment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel stay construction.

These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent from the following disclosure and claim are achieved by provision of stay receiving pockets in a garment. These pockets are provided with an opening having an openable closure thereover, whereby said stays may be inserted or removed at the discretion of the wearer.

United States Fatent' This construction will appear more clearly from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of an undergarment designed to be worn about the lower portion of the torso showing the stay receiving pockets and a preferred form said pockets.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a garment embodying the inventive features adapted for use in conjunction with the upper portion of the torso.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of a portion of the stay receiving pocket showing another embodiment of the openable closure element.

Figure 4 is a detail view of a portion of the garment showing another embodiment of the openable closure element.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a novel stay.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the stay.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures designate like parts, in Figure 1 is shown a girdle 10 designed to encompass the lower extremities of the torso of the wearer. This girdle 10 is provided with an overlay of material 11 stitched to the girdle or corset, having a plurality of rows of stitches therein to form a plurality of spaced elongate pockets 15. A row of stitches along with bottom edge of the pockets serves to close ofi this end.

At the uppermost opening of the pockets a zipper 16, extending around the top of the girdle or corset is provided. Stays 17 (one shown partially inserted) are provided.

In Figure 2 is seen a garment designed to cover the entire torso and embodying the inventive concept of this invention. The garment 20 is provided as the above disclosed girdle or corset with a plurality of pocket members 21 closed off at the top and having an openable closure member 23 at the bottom thereof. As in connection with the girdle or corset, stays 17 are provided.

Figure 3 discloses another form for the openable closure member. A flap 30 supporting a snap member 31 is fastened to the undergarment above the top opening of the stay supporting pocket. A mating snap member fastened to the undergarment, upon engaging with said first mentioned snap serves to close the stay retaining pocket.

In Figure 4 is seen a further modification of this openable closure employing an overlying flap 40 elastically held over the pocket openings.

As clearly seen in Figs. 5 and 6 stays 30 are provided with a resilient padding 31 which may be provided only at the ends as in Figure 5 or completely covering the stay as in Figure 6 to prevent damage to the garment and annoyance to the wearer.

Operation the garment and serves also to facilitate alteration of the garment to accommodate the needs of various wearers.

It is obvious that the above embodiments of the invention may be modified by employing a variety of other closure members or by positioning on various other types of supporting garments.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all embodiments of this invention within the scope of the appended claim.

of the openable closure element for What is claimed is: References Cited in the file of this patent A convertible garment construction, comprising a body UNITED STATES PATENTS engaging member having a plurality of separate elongated stay-receivinggockets extending substantially garallel; to 1,012,406 Merkm 19, 1911 each,-

thevdirectionioithebodg'substantially from 5 15381181 Fahey May 1925 top to bottom of the garment and located inthe, front: and 1,893,960 Peas? 1933 the back: oi thewbody and, a, ocket-closing and opening 2'489388 Rubm 1949 zigper, closure,- extending trangversely. to the direction; of. 2,501,901 Herbenel" 1950 fimbcdy, lo e. to, he. ends of: he pock ts, whereby Said; 2,544,840 Kowatsch, .v .t Man, 13, 1951 garment, construction is: convertible from a, body-support? 10 ing garment to a non-supporting garment and; vice, versa.. 

